The Daily B.I.T.U.B. Notes, thoughts and inspiration inspired by my journey to a place where Believe In The Unbelievable became a way of life. Blessed to share with anyone who wants to follow along. Please reach out, share the site and as always Believe in the Unbelievable that is YOU!

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Giving of yourself isn't an obligation, it's a privilege. The ability to share you and all the things that make up you is a blessing. Cherishing the opportunity to influence and be part of the growth of a friend, child or even someone you just met is appreciation of our individual gifts, and we all have something beautiful to offer. Influencing the outcome of life can begin with small influences daily. So go ahead and share a thought, a smile, laughter, emotion, a hug, a helping hand. It matters, you matter, and we all will be better for it.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Somebody right now is thinking of you. They are remembering a moment. Thinking of an instance in which you influenced their very existence. I know it's easy to think of those big things you've done. Those significant moments of change, but the little gestures are what carry you. The ones where you didn't have to but you did. Where you smiled across the room to bring comfort. Where you touched their hand amidst the chaos to let them know its ok. Where you cried because you just knew they couldn't. Where you prayed for them and no one but you and God knew. Where you held them because their heart needed to rest and where you acted for them because their mind needed to slow down. Where your hope became the beacon they needed and your faith became the light for their path. Where your actions created the words they needed to encourage themselves to carry on. Where your trust in God's plan for your life helped them realize His plan for theirs. Yes, someone right now is thinking of you. Simply because you are you.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Every day provides opportunity to appreciate life and those special people in it. Today I want to make sure I tell you! I want to make sure you know! Today I'm going to think of you. I'm going to appreciate you. I'm going to appreciate you for the lives you'll touch, the difference you make, the opportunity you will create for you and sacrifices you will make for others. I'll appreciate the beauty of hearing you laugh. The lift in spirit of seeing you smile. The gifts you bring. The dark your light illuminates. Today I will think of you and be grateful that I am blessed to know you, be part of experiencing you and your faith! Today I thank you for you and the blessings you bring to my life and others.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

There are no problems that we can't find solutions to. There is always hope even when it seems all is lost. It depends on how we look at it. If we see nothing but the dead end then sure it's hopeless. If we see the ability and opportunity to climb that wall then the possibilities are endless. We must not stop thinking of ways to grow, to innovate, to motivate, to inspire. We must not give in to the doubt or the naysayers. Like I've said often we must believe when it seems impossible to believe! Having faith isn't something we turn off and on, it is feeling our way through the darkest moments knowing the darker it gets the easier it will be to see the smallest light. So push on! Today is the perfect day to find the solutions to whatever problems you face. Today is the perfect day to stop looking for answers, and start creating them.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Are you willing to make changes in your life? I mean, really make changes. Sometimes we allow ourselves to deal with people and situations we shouldn't, because we aren't willing to make a commitment to ourselves to change. That's not how it should work. We shouldn't settle for anything less because we fear the unknown. Listen to what your heart is telling you. If you are in a toxic environment, then get out. If you aren't happy with your health, then treat yourself better. If you aren't happy with where you are today, then decide where you want to be, and go after it! You are the catalyst for the change that is needed in your life to be happy. You control how you feel about what is and what can be. You are the most influential person in your life. So stop fighting with the notion that you can't change, and start appreciating that you can!

Monday, December 18, 2017

This weekend we were watching a movie and there was a line that just made me think of how simple things can be. The man threw the other person a sword and he said "I can not lift this." "Well, grow stronger", the other man said. While it's not as simple as it sounds, it often times is the solution. Whatever it is we are facing, sometimes we must dig deep to find the strength to carry on. We must let the strength of our faith hold us up as we press on into adversity. Sometimes we overlook, or worse, doubt what we are capable of overcoming. That is, until we have to! Until we hit that wall and we refuse to not climb it. Remember, you are 100% on getting through the toughest of days. If you are wavering, weary, feeling like you can't move on, then say a prayer, gather up your blessings, lift up your sword, and grow stronger.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Lately, I've heard several times about people's perceptions of things. I've heard people say to others, "you might want to do this because the perception is you are that!" What I've found over the years is while perception may be someone's reality, you mustn't change what you believe to make them feel better. You can't live worried about what others think. You live knowing what's in your heart. You live with the passion to speak up when you must, to fight for what you believe in, and to fight for those who can't! If someone attempts to divert your attention from the task at hand by throwing out what they perceive, remember that the only reality you must deal with will be yours. At the end of the day, take comfort that God knows you. There are no perceptions from God! He already knows the outcome. He already knows what you are doing and why you are doing it. So do it staying true to your values, being honest, pure at heart, and with good intentions. I assure you as the outcome plays out, the perceptions will take care of themselves.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

I remember being at a remote office in Louisiana in a hotel, frustrated. I had just come off a really bad day and it seemed everything I did failed, and everyone I encountered was negative. There were so many opportunities in front of me to pull out of the rut, but all I saw was the bad in each choice. I couldn't put my mind into thinking of the possibility that things could go right. I laid down that night, thinking about the day, when it hit me. I got up and started to write down my blessings. Started to think about how to simplify things. I prayed a lot and found myself reinvigorated! I realized this rut was self created. The fear of failing wasn't near as strong as faith. That happiness was a choice. That pushing beyond limitations was possible if I believed it was. That's when I first wrote down one of my favorite lines... There is no shortage of doubt, it is the abundance of belief that often gets overlooked. There are so many people who believe, but we get inundated with so much negativity that we miss it. Like the line says, there is plenty of doubt already so why not choose to be the one who not only sees it, but actually does Believe in the Unbelievable that is YOU?

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Everybody plays a part. If you lose a member of the team you may lose the game. Think about a chain. You lose one link and the chain is broken. What if you removed the percussion section from a band? It certainly wouldn't sound the same, would it? As we go through life we will find that we need one another. This perception of weakness by asking for help must stop. The real strength is in knowing you do need help. We have simply got to get better at being there for one another... Offering a helping hand, taking when we need to and giving when we should, being a shoulder to cry on, and being there for someone to lean on when they need it most. Our journey will be filled with adversity, our path riddled with obstacles, our days will not be without challenges. We don't have to go at it alone. In fact, we shouldn't. That is why God gives us those special people. That's why we have those blessings cross our path. Right now you probably need someone, and more than likely someone needs you.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

You wonder how much we truly do trust in faith. When God hands us those blessings that are good, we question nothing. However, when He gives us the blessings we think are not so good, we question everything. Shouldn't we be willing to take from Him whatever He gives? Shouldn't anything from His hand be accepted? We may never know why we are given our crosses to bear, but somehow and in some way we know there is a reason. It may be to help others, even though we never see it. It may be to motivate ourselves, though we never put two and two together. It may be to prepare us for something our children, friends, family will have to deal with at some point in their lives. Whatever the reason, we shouldn't wonder what it is, but rather be grateful to God that He allows us the beauty of having anything from His hands.

Monday, December 11, 2017

"I don't give up on you, because too many people never gave up on me!" -DC

It's tough to fall short. We can become so frustrated with our inability to hit a goal that we project that out onto others. We lose our patience, and before you know it we've lost track of what we were doing in the first place. We start to doubt that we even can do it. We simply expected ourselves to be way further along than where we are. We get discouraged. We even give up sometimes. It's not easy to push past that. It's even harder when we get into the frame of mind that everything that can go wrong is going to. There is no secret to moving past it. There are no words of encouragement that can instantly pull you out of that funk. It's up to you. It's up to you and the strength you have inside you to do it. It's up to you to dig deep in that heart of yours and find the passion that motivates you to do more, to be more. It's up to you to take God's answered prayers and understand them as He does. It's up to you to have the faith to believe God's plan is in full effect, so forward is the only way you should be moving. It's up to you to get up, to get back after it, to realize that falling short, missing a goal, falling behind means you get to be better next time! Only if and when you allow yourself to have that next time.

Friday, December 8, 2017

"My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."- Psalm 121:2

Things don't just happen. We can pray for things to happen. We can ask God to help us, but that's not all there is to it. We have to contribute. We have to make good choices. We have to put in the effort to help God's plan for us work. We can't expect things to be handed to us. We have to be willing to make a difference. Then we must pay attention. As God answers our prayers they may not be exactly as we had wanted, but faith says He will deliver what is needed. It may be a completely different direction than we thought. It may be a completely different outcome than we expected. It doesn't mean it's not the way it should be. We must continue to ask God for help. We must ask Him for guidance, strength, direction. We must continue to give our worries to him. Then we believe and have faith that God will do His part as long as we do ours.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Have you ever sat back and thought, God can't really want that could He? Is that what I'm supposed to take from this experience? Is this happening to me? Why would God think I can handle this? Well, why wouldn't He? If not you, then who? Think about it. God doesn't do things randomly. Faith assures us that His will be done. His will, not ours! You mustn't waiver when things get difficult. In fact, those are the times you have to put God front and center. You have to trust in what you know. After all, you do know He will be there through it all. You do know He will be there as you right the ship. You do know that He will be with you as you face the unknown... You know that whatever you face there is a reason. Wherever you are that is where you are supposed to be. Whatever happens His will be done. You know it because you believe and you believe because you have faith!

"I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:16)

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Do you feel like you've lost a step? Like you're just not in it? You don't feel it anymore, do you? You're simply going through the motions at this point. Yeah, it happens when you start to put so much in to something, but you feel like you are getting nothing in return. Chances are, you simply don't realize the impact you are making. You don't see the good you are creating and the positive environment you are fostering. You don't see it because you are pushing forward passionately about what matters to you. You aren't focused on what you've done, but rather what there is still yet to do! That's a good thing. So, maybe it isn't you've lost a step, but you simply need a reset. You need to realize that every day you have a chance to motivate, to inspire, to create, to grow, to experience! Every day is a gift from God! Every day is a blessing! Let yourself feel that. Let yourself get back into it. Stop, look around and realize just how many people are using your light to illuminate their path.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

How many times have you heard it's too late to change? How many times have you said it? We can often let ourselves off the hook by allowing this excuse to hold us down. How can this apply if we believe through God all is possible? How can we go throughout the rest of our lives thinking that our past will prevent us from living out our dreams, our future, our tomorrow? We can't. Plain and simple, we are in charge of what comes next. While we can, and should, reflect on the past, we should do so as a means to understand the lessons and to see how far we have progressed. After all, we talk about faith. These days faith may be all we have. Faith that God will be there guiding us when we need it most. Faith that He will push us through the changes we may need, even when we are afraid to face that change. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Monday, December 4, 2017

It's human nature to want to know the outcome of things. We will sit and map out the steps, the scenarios that could occur, and plan accordingly. What we often forget though, is that things might not always go as planned and thus we must be ready to adjust as needed. There lies the problem. Many times we don't know how to adjust because we won't accept that things aren't unfolding like we wanted. Then we start blaming others, blaming circumstances, taking shortcuts. We will use every single crutch out there to continue to prop up what we know must be the way. After all, it's the way things are supposed to be. Yet despite all that, it's our ability to understand that we can get there if we believe we can! That is what matters most! That is the one tangible part of our plan we overlook. It's the one part that must stay consistent no matter how far off the beaten path things get. If you believe in it, are willing to fight for it, willing to give all of you to it, then the foundation of your plan will never change. The only real question is WHEN you'll get there, because you already know you will.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Every emotion comes from somewhere. It's our ability to connect to those emotions that creates a better understanding and appreciation of them. Being openly honest with yourself is difficult at times, just as dealing with things you don't want to is. Interestingly enough, we can look at those we love and see their pain. We see when our kids are hurting, we see when family is off track, we see when our spouse isn't ok. We see it, and we instantly go into a place where we ask ourselves: what part did we play in that? What part will we play in fixing it? Then we do. Yet we neglect that same instinct when looking at ourselves. Looking in the mirror we must learn to see our own pain. We must learn to understand what role we played in it and fix it! As uncomfortable as it may be to deal with our shortcomings, our self created limitations, our excuses, that's the only way we get better. It's the only way we heal. It's the only way we go from where we are to the place we want to be.